Goya Foods to donate $150K to build orphanage in the Dominican Republic

Hudson Reporter

Feb 20, 2013 | 2456 views | 0 | 8 | |

SECAUCUS AND BEYOND – Secaucus-based Goya Foods, a Latino-owned U.S. food company, will donate $150,000 to the Maestro Cares Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Marc Anthony and Henry Cardenas to build a new orphanage in the Dominican Republic, according to a press statement.

The donation will specifically go towards the development and construction of a new orphanage that will serve more than 200 children at the Orfanato Niños de Cristo in La Romana, Dominican Republic.

Maestro Cares is a non-for-profit corporation established in November 2011 to support the housing and educational needs of orphaned and underprivileged children in developing Latin American countries.

“We wanted to contribute to Maestro Cares and this new project in the Dominican Republic because of our close relationship with the people and children of the country that transcends to the Dominican communities here in New York and the rest of the United States,” said Bob Unanue, president of Goya Foods.

The new complex, which measures 30,000 square feet, will feature state-of-the-art designs and include a kitchen, laundry room, cafeteria, library, chapel, classrooms, dorm rooms, a teacher’s lounge, workshop area, business center, and a baseball field.

The donation will also help provide housing, clothing, food and staff while assisting in the academic, social and recreational development of the children through various programs.

“The contributions that donors like Goya are providing today, will help us change and improve the lives of our children,” said Marc Anthony.

“As we work to end homelessness, hunger, and violence for our children in Latin America, it is important for us to know that we have supporters such as Goya, who believe in our mission to build better futures for these children,” said Henry Cardenas.